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Liverpool retunes as new transmitters boost DAB coverage

Radio listeners in Liverpool are being urged to retune their digital radios to continue receiving their favourite stations.

The retune is necessary because of engineering work to change the frequency of existing digital radio transmitters in the Liverpool area, which coincides with the launch of two new transmitters that will expand DAB digital radio coverage for 360,000 listeners in the area.

A retune event took place on April 20 at Liverpool Town Hall, where the Lord Mayor of Liverpool, Councillor Tony Concepcion, pressed the official retune switch at 08:45.

Cllr Concepcion said: “The Liverpool community is served by a great variety of local stations. I am delighted that now even more listeners in Liverpool will be able to hear these important and well-loved stations on digital radio and encourage everyone to retune their radios.”

The new digital transmitters for the Liverpool area will expand DAB coverage from 82 per cent to 98 per cent of households. This is part of an ongoing scheme that will see the building of a further 182 local DAB transmitters nationally to extend coverage to more than 90 per cent of the population. This will bring eight million listeners across the UK into coverage.

Digital Radio UK chief executive Ford Ennals said: “Liverpool has a great variety of local DAB station, so it’s great news that over 360,000 more listeners will now be able to enjoy all their favourite local stations on DAB digital radio for the first time.”

Ed Vaizey, Minister for Culture and the Digital Economy, said: “The digital radio retune in Liverpool is fantastic news for both listeners and Liverpool’s local radio stations. Government is committed to rolling out DAB digital radio, bringing listeners around the UK greater access, better coverage and an even wider variety of content.”